494. Islaamic Guidelines For Moving Into A New House

By Asma bint Shameem

Every one of us will probably move into a new house some time or another, at least once in our lifetime.

Here are some guidelines of moving into the new house according to the Sunnah.

1) Thank Allaah:

First and foremost be grateful to Allaah for blessing you with a new place to live.

Indeed it is Allaah Alone that has blessed you and if you are thankful, Allaah will increase you even more in His blessings.

Allaah says: “And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: If you give thanks, I will give you more (of My Blessings); but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily, My punishment is indeed severe” (Surah Ibraaheem:7)

2) Give the adhaan:

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said: “When Shaytaan hears the adhaan, he runs away to a distance like that of Rauha.

Sulaimin said: I asked him about Rauha.

He replied: “It is at a distance of thirty-six miles from Medeenah.” (Muslim)

And he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam also said: “When the Mu'adhdhin calls the adhaan, Shaytaan runs back vehemently.” (Muslim)

3. Say this Dua:

Someone asked Sheikh Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen what a person should say if he enters his home.

He said: “When a man enters his house for the first time, he should say….

أعوذ بكلمات الله التامَّات من شر ما خلق

‘A’oodhu bi kalimaat-Illaah it-taammaati min sharri ma khalaq

(I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allaah from the evil of that which He has created)’ three times.

If he says this, then nothing will harm him until he leaves that place.”

4) Another duaa

Our Mother Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said: “When the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam saw something that he liked, he would say:

الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ الذِي بِنِعمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتُ

“Al-hamdu Lillaah illadhi bi ni’matihi tatimmu’l-saalihaat”

“Praise be to Allaah by Whose blessings and grace good deeds are accomplished.” (Ibn Maajah- saheeh by al-Albaani)

5) Always say Bismillaah when entering your home:

Saying Bismillaah on entering your house will keep the Shaytaan out.

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: “When a man enters his house, and mentions Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, when he enters and when he eats, the Shaytaan says: ‘You have no place to stay and no dinner.’

But if he enters and does not mention Allaah when he enters, the Shaytaan says, ‘You have found a place to stay.’ And if he does not mention Allaah when he eats, he says: ‘You have found a place to stay and dinner.’” (Muslim) .

This is not only for a new house. Rather this should be our REGULAR practice WHENEVER we enter our homes, new OR old.

6) Protect your house from Envy and the Evil Eye:

The scholars said: “Among the ways in which you may seek protection for your new house from the evil eye and destructive envy is to say:

أُعِيذُكَ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّةِ مِن كُلِّ شَيطَانٍ وَهَامَّة ، وَمِن كُلِّ عَينٍ لَامَّةٍ

“U’eedhuka bi kalimaat-Allaah il-taammah min kulli shaytaanin wa haammah wa min kulli ‘aynin laammah

(I seek refuge for you in the perfect words of Allaah from every devil and poisonous reptile, and from every envious evil eye).” (al-Bukhaari 3371) (Islamqa Fatwa # 77208)

7) Read Surah al-Baqarah:

Reading this blessed Surah will drive the Shayaateen away from your house.

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: “Do not make your houses into graves, for the Shaytaan flees from a house in which Surah al-Baqarah is recited.” (Saheeh Muslim)

Shaykh Ibn Baaz said: “It seems – and Allaah knows best – that by means of the reading of all of Soorat al-Baqarah, either on the radio or by the owner of the house, that which was mentioned by the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam may be achieved, namely Shaytaan fleeing from that house.” (Majmoo’ al-Fataawa)

This shows us that any way that the reading is achieved is sufficient, be it reading it yourself or playing it on the CD, radio, etc.

But reading yourself is better than playing the recording.

8) Invite people to dinner:

Make food and invite people to come and eat, because that is a way of showing gratitude to Allaah.

The scholars said:“Holding a feast after acquiring property is called “wakeerah” and it is mustahabb (recommended) to do so, like all kinds of feasts that are given on happy occasions. (al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah)

9) Stay away from innovations:

There is no proof in the Qur’aan or Sunnah that justifies holding Qur'aan Khwaanis or ‘Khatams’ of ‘Yaa Salaamu’, etc. when a person moves to a new house.

We do NOT have ANY authentic reports about the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam or the Sahabah reading the different parts of the Qur'aan or holding Khatams when they moved into a house.

For example, when they migrated to Madeenah and moved to new houses, they didn’t gather people together and read Surah Yaseen or any other part of the Qur’aan collectively or hold “Qur’aan khwanis” or “khatams”of any sort.

As a matter of fact, they didn't do this EVER, at any part of their lives, whether they moved or not moved.

Also there is NO proof in the Sharee’ah of other innovations that people have invented when they first move into new houses such as taking the Qur'aan, or taking Zam Zam or a piece of charcoal or water and salt before anything else into their new house, burning chilies at the doorstep, boiling milk, sacrificing a goat or lamb on the threshold, etc.

That is all superstition and false beliefs and is thus forbidden.

And Allaah knows best